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H.`B. MEEGH.

., Apparagtlis for Dredging and Separating G 1d`,&c,x 10,227,986, Patented May 2.5,'11880;

L. l L .4 y; l WITNESSBS: I I INVBNTOR ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGPAPHB?, WASHINGTON. D..

UNITED STATES PATENT ,OFFICEO HARRISON B. MEEOH, OF OHA'IHAM VILLAGE, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR DREDGI'NG AND SEPARATING GOLD, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,986, dated May 25, 1880.

Application filed March 6, 1880. (No model.)

improved apparatus for obtaining gold and other precious metals from the bottom of rivers and other submarine deposits.

The invention consists of a revolving drum provided with peripheral buckets and an at-4 tached reciprocating double-,bottomed jigger both of which are suspended. from a` suitable frame-work that is designed to be secured upon a boat or otherr vessel in such a-manner that said drum and jigger may be lowered to the river bottom, there to operate by means of4 power applied from the said boat or other vessel. c

Figure l represents a side elevation of the device, partly in section, and with parts broken away to show other parts. Fig. 2 is a plan of the device on lineman, Figl, with parts broken away to better exhibit other parts. Fig. 3 represents a modification or equivalent of -the jigger. Fig. 4 represents another modification or equivalent of the jigger.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. v i

In the drawings, A represents the frame holding or supporting the operating parts of the apparatus. B is the drum, provided with peripheral buckets a a, and journaled in the hangers O O, and onto the drum-axle b, on one side of the said drum B, is secured a chainwheel, D. Between the standards c c of the frame A is the driving-pulley E, whose shaft d is journaled on the upper cross-beams, ff, and on this shaft d, on one side ofthe pulley E, is keyed a chain-wheel, F, that is connected with the lower chain-wheel, D, by the chain G, and thereby causes the said drum B to revolve when power is applied to the drivingpulley E.

H is the jigger, consisting of a long shallow pan closed at the end nearest the drum B, and of a width a little exceeding the length of the said drum B. Secured transversely across the bottom H 0f this jigger H are the paral- 'ward motion of said iigger H.

lel strips or bars g g. These serve as riffles to facilitate the collection of the gold and other precious metal that may fall through the perforations made in the false bottom I of the said'jigger H. This false bottom Iis provided with transverse bars or strips h h, that prevent the washing o' of the collected gold or other heavy metals and serve to agitate the matter placed thereon, and with perforations li t, that permit the particles of collected gold and other metals and all the finer portions of the excavated sand, gravel, &c., to fall upon the bottom H of the said jigger H. This false bottorn I is made removable, so that the bottom H may be from time to time inspected and the deposits easily removed from it.

The jigger H is movably connected with the frame A, or with the boxing a. at the sides of the lower part of said frame A, by rods and staples 7c 7c, or, other suitable device that will admit of a reciprocating forward-and-back This boxing a serves to protect the chain-wheel D and crank K and bearings of the drum B from con tact with submarine obstructions. The inner end of this jigger extends nearly in contact with the drum B, and said jiggerH is reciprocated by means of a crank and rod, K, that are attachedto an end of the axle b of said drum.

It is designed that the `horizontal timbers iA of the frame A shall be fastened upon the gunwale or rail of a boat or vessel, and that the standard c c and its attached parts and mechanism shall be suspended thereby over the side of the said boat or vessel. The standards c c may then be lowered by means of rack and wheel, as shown in dotted lines at m, or by means of a derrick, or by tackle and falls connecting with the ring n, or by any other suitable hoisting and lowering device, until the drum B and jigger H rest upon the submarine bottom. Then, as the boat or vessel is moved along in the directiony of the arrow shown in Fig. l, power is applied to revolve the driving-pulley E, and thereby the drum B. As the drum B revolves the buckets aa scoop the sand, gravel, Ste., from the submarine bottom and deposit it upon the apron L in rear of said drum B, whence said sand, gravel, Ste., is carried by its gravity and hy the mo- IOO tion through the Water upon the jiggers false bottom I, through Whose perforations M the finer portions of the deposit will fail upon the bottom H, preferably upon mercury, that Will be held between the transverse strips or bars g g, so that the current of Water liowing over the said bottom Hl will Wash away all of the deposited sand and gravel, and leave the gold and other precious metals amalgamated by or in contact with said mercury.

In some instances the use of mercury with l bottom H may be dispensed With,e especially Where the gold is, as is sometimes the case,in particles of sufficient size and Weight to remain unmoved on the said bottom H by the current ot' Water tlowin g over it.

As the drum B revolves the crank and rod K, that connect the drum-axle b with the jigger H, impart to said jigger H a reciprocating longitudinal motion that causes the particles of deposited precious metal to gravitate to and settle in the bottom of the said jlgger, while the lighter sand, gravel, Ste., are soagitated as to be readily Washed oft' by the currents of water.

Whenever desired the apparatus-the drum and jigger-may be elevated above the Water and the collected gold or other precious metal be removed from the latter; and to assist -in Aelevating the jigger H ropes, chains, or rods may be secured in the staples p, fixed to the sides of said jigger.

The moditication or equivalent of the jigger H shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, consists of an internallyribbed receivingcylinder,

While the modification shown in dotted lines, Fig. represents a stationary ribbed cylinder with a screw revolving within it.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A drum provided with peripheral buckets, in combination with a separator in the same, or nearly the same, horizontal plane with the drum, whereby both will be submerged When in use and operate in unison with the Water, and means for raising or lowerin g, substantiallyas described.

2. A drum provided with peripheral buckets, in combination with a separator composed of a jigger and a rifie beneath the latter, said separator being in the same, or nearly the same, horizontal plane with the drum, Whereby both Will be submerged when in use and operate in unison with the water, and means for raising and lowering, substantially as del scribed.

3. A drum provided with peripheral buckets, in combination with a separator having a perforated false bottom provided with a series of transverse strips or bars, said separator being in the same, or nearly the same, horizontal plane With the drum, whereby both will be submerged When in use and operate in unison with the Water, and means for raising and lowering, substantially as described.

HARRISON B. MEEGH.

Witnesses:

I. I. S'ronnn, C. SEDGWIcK. 

